title: Synergetic effect of functional cadmium-tellurium quantum dots conjugated with gambogic acid for HepG2 cell-labeling and proliferation inhibition.
abstract: We prepared and studied novel fluorescent nanocomposites based on gambogic acid (GA) and cadmium-tellurium (CdTe) quantum dots (CdTe QDs) modified with cysteamine for purpose of cancer cell labeling and combined treatment. The nanocomposites were denoted as GA-CdTe. Characterization results indicated that the CdTe QDs can readily bind onto cell plasma membranes and then be internalized into cancer cells for real-time labeling and tracing of human liver hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2) cells. GA-CdTe significantly enhanced drug accumulation in HepG2 cells and inhibited cancer cell proliferation. GA-CdTe nanocomposites also improved the drug action of GA molecules in HepG2 cells and induced the G2/M phase arrest of the cancer cell cycle, promoting cell apoptosis. Given the sensitive, pH-triggered release of GA-CdTe, the side effects of GA anticancer agents on normal cells/tissues in the blood circulation markedly decreased. Efficient drug release and accumulation in target tumor cells were also facilitated. Thus, the fluorescent GA-CdTe offered a new strategy for potential multimode cancer therapy and provided new channels for research into naturally-active compounds extracted from traditional Chinese medicinal plants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Peipei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jingyuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lixin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Selke
authors.forename: Baoan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xuemei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004357:Drug Synergism; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013691:Tellurium; D044004:Xanthones / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D044004:Xanthones; C052659:gambogic acid; D013691:Tellurium; C028337:cadmium telluride
keywords: cadmium-tellurium quantum dots; cell labeling; drug delivery; gambogic acid; therapy